And the Draft’s Winner Is . . . CBS

The Arizona Cardinals will claim they had the best NFL draft, drawing a good argument from the Rams, Raiders and Patriots.

They all, however, run second to CBS.

Paying $500 million a year for the right to broadcast AFC games beginning this season, CBS emerged the big winner this weekend, improving its Sunday draw where it matters most--at the quarterback position.

The draft figured both directly and indirectly in Indianapolis getting Peyton Manning at quarterback, San Diego landing Ryan Leaf, Baltimore upgrading with plucky Jim Harbaugh, Buffalo starting fresh with surfer Rob Johnson and Denver planning for the day when John Elway is no longer around with the addition of Bob’s boy, Brian Griese.

Throw out all the big bodies in this draft picked to pass block or plug up the middle to shut down the opposition’s running game--how many times have people tuned in to watch Willie Roaf block Henry Thomas?

Ignore the cornerbacks selected, who don’t come close to capturing the excitement of Deion Sanders with the exception of Charles Woodson, who will be playing for the AFC-based Raiders.

Some plug named Enis was the first running back taken, but unless you like goal-line plunges by a guy employed by a team that’s going to score only once every two weeks, it’s Jacksonville and New England who made out. Jacksonville got the second best back available in an explosive Fred Taylor, and New England the third with Robert Edward, both players enhancing the big-play potential of quarterbacks’ Mark Brunell and Drew Bledsoe.

Kansas City has Elvis, and now Green Bay is without Reggie.

The NFC still has mega stars in Brett Favre, Steve Young and Troy Aikman at quarterback, but Fox must also show Chris Chandler, Danny Kanell, Billy Joe Hobert, Trent Dilfer, Erik Kramer, Kerry Collins, Gus Frerotte, Scott Mitchell and Tony Banks. This is not must-see TV.

The AFC, boasting the defending Super Bowl champions, can now counter with Kordell Stewart, Steve McNair, Warren Moon, Dan Marino, Jeff George and Elvis Grbac, in addition to Elway, Bledsoe and Brunell.

An Oct. 4 AFC contest between the Colts and Chargers in Indianapolis even looks inviting if Leaf and Manning are allowed to square off.

The AFC also has Andy Rooney in its lineup every Sunday.

Best drafts: 1, Oakland; 2, Arizona; 3, St. Louis.

If the Raiders are going to maintain their reputation for being the most talented team to fall apart during the regular season they have to have good drafts. This one was outstanding with Woodson, the projection here to be the NFL’s rookie of the year, joining offensive tackle Mo Collins and defensive tackle Leon Bender as potential immediate starters.

The Cardinals had an outstanding off-season, still have the Chargers’ No. 1 pick next year which should net a top 10 player and ran off with the best player in this draft, defensive end Andre Wadsworth to bolster a defensive line already one of the best in the league.

Hard to believe the Rams can do anything right, but after being tempted to trade up to get Penn State running back Curtis Enis, they stayed put, grabbed a starting defensive end in Grant Wistrom and then hit the lottery with Illinois running back Robert Holcombe in the second round.

Worst drafts: 1, New York Jets; 2, Detroit; 3, Kansas City.

Bill Parcells remains committed to building the New England Patriots into a powerhouse, although he left that team a year ago to coach the Jets. The Patriots had six picks in the first three rounds in part because the Jets had to pay New England to sign Parcells and then add running back Curtis Martin to their roster. They must still surrender their No. 1 pick to New England again next year, and while the Patriots stockpile talent, the Jets play on without a quality quarterback.

You know it’s not a good draft when you have a whole bunch of money tied up in quarterback Scott Mitchell, and then have to waste a second-round pick on Charlie Batch, a quarterback from Eastern Michigan, as insurance against Mitchell playing dumb again.

The Chiefs do not have a quality running back, and despite big-time off-season moves to help their passing game and defensive line, they passed on Mississippi running back John Avery, Holcombe, Stanford’s Jon Ritchie, UCLA’s Skip Hicks, Nebraska’s Ahman Green and Michigan’s Chris Floyd in order to take a shaky offensive tackle in Victory Riley before settling for injury-prone Washington running back Rashaan Shehee.

A good team getting even better: 1, New England; 2, Jacksonville; 3, Tampa Bay.

The Patriots, Super Bowl participants two years ago, added a starting running back in Robert Edwards, a starting safety in Tebucky Jones and a 6-foot-6 wide receiver in Tony Simmons to play opposite speedy Terry Glenn.

The Jaguars, an early pick to compete for the AFC title, added 11 draft picks including a starting running back in Fred Taylor and immediate secondary help from Donovin Darius and Cordell Taylor.

The Buccaneers filled their two most pressing needs in adding an explosive wide receiver in Jacquez Green and a promising corner in Brian Kelly, while also picking up the Chargers’ No. 1 pick in 2000 and the opportunity to add more impact players down the road.

Player who fell the most: Oklahoma State tight end Alonzo Mayes.

Rated by some teams in the top 10 because of his athletic ability, but like Randy Moss taken off the board because of character concerns after failing the NFL combine drug test. Chicago has concerns of its own--a lack of good players and predictions that Dave Wannstedt will be fired as coach if there is not a turnaround. Therefore it was a no-brainer, the Bears taking him with the 94th pick.

Player who climbed the most: Florida A&M; defensive end Cedric Harden.

Not listed in any of the pre-draft publications that basically includes any football player with two legs and two arms. According to the Florida A&M; sports information department, “this personable, yet intense and dedicated youngster finally found a niche in 1997, shifting to defensive end after three years as a tight end.” Started six games his final season, and that was because the starter was injured. That was enough for Charger General Manager Bobby Beathard, who used a fifth-round pick on him.

First-round steal: North Carolina defensive tackle Vonnie Holliday.

Who needs Reggie White? The Packers were either very lucky, or aware of White’s impending retirement announcement, because just hours before the draft began, Packer General Manager Ron Wolf convinced Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson to swap positions in the first round for an additional second-round pick. The Packers, coming off back-to-back Super Bowl appearances, jumped to 19th in the first round, and pounced on Holliday, a projected top 10 pick, to fill White’s shoes. “Most people say they were surprised to find the guy still there when they picked, but we really were,” said Wolf.

First-round reach: Oklahoma State cornerback R.W. McQuarters.

The 49ers figured it was a slam dunk drafting Florida offensive tackle Mo Collins at No. 28 in the first round, and to protect themselves sent out a smoke screen quietly suggesting they were interested in Auburn offensive tackle Victor Riley. ESPN provided no inside pictures of the 49ers’ “War Room,” which would have been a great opportunity to witness an organization in chaos. The Raiders traded with Tampa Bay at No. 23 to take Collins, and the Chiefs took Riley at No. 27, leaving the 49ers to look befuddled at each other before taking one of the shortest cornerbacks (5-9) available in the draft.

What about Notre Dame quarterback Ron Powlus? Like Lou Holtz, he’s still available.

Notre Dame and USC each had one player selected in the draft, the same number as Livingstone College and Angelo State. Washington had a draft-high 10 players selected, while for the first time since 1936, Ohio State did not have a player picked.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

TEAM-BY-TEAM DRAFT PICKS

Players listed by round, name, position, school and overall selection in parentheses

Arizona

1. Andre Wadsworth, de, Florida St. (3); 2. Corey Chavous, db, Vanderbilt (33); 2. Anthony Clement, ot, SW Louisiana (36); 4. Michael Pittman, rb, Fresno St. (95); 5. Terry Hardy, te, Southern Mississippi (125); 6. Zack Walz, lb, Dartmouth (158); 7. Phil Savoy, wr, Colorado (193); 7. Henry Slay, dt, West Virginia (203); 7. George Cousins, de, Florida A&M; (209); 7. Pat Tillman, db, Arizona St. (226); 7. Ron Janes, rb, Missouri (233).

Atlanta

1. Keith Brooking, lb, Georgia Tech (12); 2. Bob Hallen, c, Kent (53); 3. Jammi German, wr, Miami (74); 4. Omar Brown, db, North Carolina (103); 4. Tim Dwight, wr-kr, Iowa (114); 6. Elijah Williams, db, Florida (166); 7. Ephraim Salaam, ot, San Diego St. (199); 7. Ken Oxendine, rb, Virginia Tech. (201).

Baltimore

1. Duane Starks, db, Miami (10); 2. Pat Johnson, wr, Oregon (42); 5. Martin Chase, dt, Oklahoma (124); 5. Ryan Sutter, db, Colorado (133); 6. Ron Rogers, lb, Georgia Tech (154); 6. Sammy Williams, ot, Oklahoma (164); 7. Cam Quayle, te, Weber St. (241).

Buffalo

2. Sam Cowart, lb, Florida St. (39); 3. Robert Hicks, ot, Mississippi St. (68); 5. Jonathan Linton, rb, North Carolina (131); 6. Fred Coleman, wr, Washington (160); 7. Victor Allotey, g, Indiana (198). 7. Kamil Loud, wr, Cal Poly SLO (238).

Carolina

1. Jason Peter, dt, Nebraska (14); 3. Chuck Wiley, de, LSU (62); 3. Mitch Marrow, de, Penn (73); 4. Donald Hayes, wr, Wisconsin (106); 5. Jerry Jensen, lb, Washington (136); 6. Damien Richardson, db, Arizona St. (165); 7. Viliami Maumau, dt, Colorado (196); 7. Jim Turner, wr, Syracuse (228).

Chicago

1. Curtis Enis, rb, Penn St. (5); 2. Tony Parrish, db, Washington (35); 3. Olin Kreutz, c, Washington (64); 4. Alonzo Mayes, te, Oklahoma St. (94); 6. Chris Draft, lb, Stanford (157); 6. Patrick Mannelly, ot, Duke (189); 7. Chad Overhauser, ot, UCLA (217); 7. Moses Moreno, qb, Colorado St. (232).

Cincinnati

1. Takeo Spikes, lb, Auburn (13); 1. Brian Simmons, lb, North Carolina (17); 2. Artrell Hawkins, db, Cincinnati (43); 3. Steve Foley, lb, NE Louisiana (75); 3. Mike Goff, g, Iowa (78); 4. Glenn Steele, de, Michigan (105); 6. Jason Tucker, wr, TCU (167); 7. Marcus Parker, rb, Virginia Tech (202); 7. Damian Vaughn, te, Miami, Ohio (222).

Dallas

1. Greg Ellis, de, North Carolina (8); 2. Flozell Adams, ot, Michigan St. (38); 4. Michael Myers, dt, Alabama (100); 5. Darren Hambrick, lb, South Carolina (130); 5. Oliver Ross, ot, Iowa St. (138); 6. Izell Reese, db, Alabama Birmingham (188); 7. Tarik Smith, rb, California (223). 7. Antonio Fleming, g, Georgia (227); 7. Rodrick Monroe, te, Cincinnati (237).

Denver

1. Marcus Nash, wr, Tennessee (30); 2. Eric Brown, s, Mississippi St. (61); 3. Brian Griese, qb, Michigan (91); 4. Curtis Alexander, rb, Alabama (122); 5. Chris Howard, rb, Michigan (153); 7. Trey Teague, ot, Tennessee (200); 7. Nate Wayne, lb, Mississippi (219).

Detroit

1. Terry Fair, db, Tennessee (20); 2. Germane Crowell, wr, Virginia (50); 2. Charlie Batch, qb, Eastern Michigan (60); 6. Jamaal Alexander, db, Southern Mississippi (185); 7. Chris Liwienski, ot, Indiana (207).

Green Bay

1. Vonnie Holliday, dt, North Carolina (19); 3. Jonathan Brown, de, Tennessee (90); 4. Roosevelt Blackmon, db, Morris Brown (121); 5. Corey Bradford, wr, Jackson St. (150); 6. Scott McGarrahan, db, New Mexico (156); 6. Matt Hasselbeck, qb, Boston College (187); 7. Ed Watson, rb, Purdue (218).

Indianapolis

1. Peyton Manning, qb, Tennessee (1); 2. Jerome Pathon, wr, Washington (32); 3. E.G. Green, wr, Florida St. (71); 4. Steve McKinney, g, Texas A&M; (93); 5. Anthony Jordon, lb, Vanderbilt (135); 7. Aaron Taylor, g, Nebraska (190); 7. Corey Gaines, db, Tennessee (231).

Jacksonville

1. Fred Taylor, rb, Florida (9); 1. Donovin Darius, db, Syracuse (25); 2. Cordell Taylor, db, Hampton (57); 3. Jonathan Quinn, qb, Middle Tennessee St. (86); 4. Tavian Banks, rb, Iowa (101); 4. Harry Deligianis, dt, Youngstown St. (118); 5. John Wade, c, Marshall (148); 6. Lemanzer Williams, de, Minnesota (179); 6. Kevin McLeod, rb, Auburn (182); 7. Alvis Whitted, wr, North Carolina St. (192); 7. Brandon Tolbert, lb, Georgia (214).

Kansas City

1. Victor Riley, ot, Auburn (27); 3. Rashaan Shehee, rb, Washington (88); 4. Greg Favors, lb, Mississippi St. (120); 5. Robert Williams, db, North Carolina (128); 6. Derrick Ransom, dt, Cincinnati (181); 7. Eric Warfield, db, Nebraska (216); 7. Ernest Blackwell, rb, Missouri (224).

Miami

1. John Avery, rb, Mississippi (29); 2. Patrick Surtain, db, Southern Mississippi (44); 2. Kenny Mixon, de, LSU (49); 3. Brad Jackson, lb, Cincinnati (79); 3. Larry Shannon, wr, East Carolina (82); 4. Lorenzo Bromell, de, Clemson (102); 5. Scott Shaw, g, Michigan St. (143); 6. Nathan Strikwerda, c, Northwestern (171); 6. John Dutton, qb, Nevada (172); 7. Jim Bundren, g, Clemson (210).

Minnesota

1. Randy Moss, wr, Marshall (21); 2. Kailee Wong, lb, Stanford (51); 3. Ramos McDonald, db, New Mexico (80); 4. Kivuusama Mayes, lb, North Carolina (110); 5. Kerry Cooks, db, Iowa (144); 6. Matt Birk, ot, Harvard (173); 7. Chester Burnett, lb, Arizona (208); 7. Tony Darden, db, Texas Tech (225).

New England

1. Robert Edwards, rb, Georgia (18); 1. Tebucky Jones, db, Syracuse (22); 2. Tony Simmons, wr, Wisconsin (52); 2. Rod Rutledge, te, Alabama (54); 3. Chris Floyd, rb, Michigan (81); 3. Greg Spires, de, Florida St. (83); 4. Leonta Rheams, dt, Houston (115); 5. Ron Merkerson, lb, Colorado (145); 6. Harold Shaw, rb, Southern Mississippi (176); 7. Jason Andersen, c, BYU (211).

New Orleans

1. Kyle Turley, ot, San Diego St. (7); 2. Cameron Cleeland, te, Washington (40); 4. Fred Weary, db, Florida (97); 4. Julian Pittman, de, Florida St. (99); 5. Wilmont Perry, rb, Livingstone (132); 6. Chris Bordano, lb, SMU (161); 7. Andy McCullough, wr, Tennessee (204); 7. Ron Warner, lb, Kansas (239).

New York Giants

1. Shaun Williams, db, UCLA (24); 2. Joe Jurevicius, wr, Penn St. (55); 3. Brian Alford, wr, Purdue (70); 5. Toby Myles, ot, Jackson St. (147); 6. Todd Pollack, te, Boston College (177); 7. Ben Fricke, c, Houston (213).

New York Jets

2. Dorian Boose, de, Washington St. (56); 3. Scott Frost, db, Nebraska (67); 3. Kevin Williams, db, Oklahoma St. (87); 4. Jason Fabini, ot, Cincinnati (111); 5. Casey Dailey, lb, Northwestern (134); 5. Doug Karczewski, g, Virginia (141); 5. Blake Spence, te, Oregon (146); 5. Eric Bateman, g, BYU (149); 6. Eric Ogbogu, de, Maryland (163); 6. Chris Brazzell, wr, Angelo St. (174); 6. Dustin Johnson, rb, BYU (183); 7. Lawrence Hart, te, Southern U. (195).

Oakland

1. Charles Woodson, db, Michigan (4); 1. Mo Collins, ot, Florida (23); 2. Leon Bender, dt, Washington St. (31); 3. Jon Ritchie, rb, Stanford (63); 4. Gennaro DiNapoli, g, Virginia Tech (109); 5. Jeremy Brigham, te, Washington (127); 5. Travian Smith, lb, Oklahoma (152); 7. Vince Amey, de, Arizona St. (230); 7. David Sanders, de, Arkansas (235).

Philadelphia

1. Tra Thomas, ot, Florida St. (11); 3. Jeremiah Trotter, lb, Stephen F. Austin (72); 3. Allen Rossum, db, Notre Dame (85); 4. Brandon Whiting, dt, California (112); 4. Clarence Love, db, Toledo (116); 5. Ike Reese, lb, Michigan St. (142); 7. Chris Akins, dt, Texas (220); 7. Melvin Thomas, g, Colorado (240).

Pittsburgh

1. Alan Faneca, g, LSU (26); 2. Jeremy Staat, dt, Arizona St. (41); 3. Chris Conrad, ot, Fresno St. (66); 3. Hines Ward, wr, Georgia (92); 4. Deshea Townsend, db, Alabama (117); 4. Carlos King, fb, North Carolina St. (123); 5. Jason Simmons, db, Arizona St. (137); 6. Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala, rb, Utah (178); 6. Ryan Olson, lb, Colorado (186); 7. Angel Rubio, de, Southeast Missouri St. (221).

St. Louis

1. Grant Wistrom, de, Nebraska (6); 2. Robert Holcombe, rb, Illinios (37); 3. Leonard Little, lb, Tennessee (65); 4. Az-Zahir Hakim, wr, San Diego St. (96); 4. Roland Williams, te, Syracuse (97); 5. Raymond Priester, rb, Clemson (129); 6. Glenn Roundtree, g, Clemson (159); 7. Jason Chorak, de, Washington (236).

San Diego

1. Ryan Leaf, qb, Washington St. (2); 2. Mikhael Ricks, wr, Stephen F. Austin (59); 5. Cedric Harden, de, Florida A&M; (126); 6. Clifford Ivory, db, Troy St. (155); 7. Jon Haskins, lb, Stanford (194); 7. Kio Sanford, wr, Kentucky (234).

San Francisco

1. R.W. McQuarters, db, Oklahoma St. (28); 2. Jeremy Newberry, c, California (58); 3. Chris Ruhman, ot, Texas A&M; (89); 4. Lance Schulters, db, Hofstra (119); 5. Phil Ostrowski, g, Penn St. (151); 6. Fred Beasley, rb, Auburn (180); 7. Ryan Thelwell, wr, Minnesota (215).

Seattle

1. Anthony Simmons, lb, Clemson (15); 2. Todd Weiner, ot, Kansas St. (47); 3. Ahman Green, rb, Nebraska (76); 3. DeShone Myles, lb, Nevada (108); 6. Carl Hansen, de, Stanford (162); 6. Bobby Shaw, wr, California (169); 7. Jason McEndoo, c, Washington St. (197).

Tampa Bay

2. Jacquez Green, wr, Florida (34); 2. Brian Kelly, db, USC (45); 3. Jamie Duncan, lb, Vanderbilt (84); 4. Todd Washington, g, Virginia Tech (104); 6. James Cannida, dt, Nevada (175); 6. Shevin Smith, db, Florida St. (184); 7. Chance McCarty, de, TCU (212).

Tennessee

1. Kevin Dyson, wr, Utah (16); 2. Samari Rolle, db, Florida St. (46); 3. Dainon Sydney, db, Alabama Birmingham (77); 4. Joe Salave’a, dt, Arizona (107); 5. Benji Olson, g, Washington (139); 6. Lee Wiggins, db, South Carolina (168); 7. Jimmy Sprotte, lb, Arizona (205); 7. Kevin Long, c, Florida St. (229).

Washington

2. Stephen Alexander, te, Oklahoma (48); 3. Skip Hicks, rb, UCLA (69); 4. Shawn Barber, lb, Richmond (113); 5. Mark Fischer, c, Purdue (140); 6. Pat Palmer, wr, NW Louisiana (170); 7. David Terrell, db, Texas El Paso (191); 7. Antwaune Ponds, lb, Syracuse (206).